Luiz Reis

A self-taught instrumentalist, Luís Reis mastered the piano, guitar, drums, and pandeiro. Partnering with Haroldo Barbosa, he created his most successful pieces—“Palhaçada,” which Miltinho committed to disc, “Notícia de Jornal,” and “Nossos Momentos.” Elizeth Cardoso, Chico Buarque (who cut “Notícia de Jornal”), Nana Caymmi (who recorded “Canção da Manhã Feliz”), and Boca Livre (who rendered “Nossos Momentos”) all interpreted his material, alongside numerous other performers. He also supplied original scores for motion pictures, notably the Rui Santos film Onde a Terra Começa. His professional career began in 1943 in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Returning to Rio de Janeiro the following year, he worked as an accompanist for broadcasts on Rádio Mauá. Between 1956 and 1959 he pursued journalism while belonging to Bené Nunes’ ensemble. In 1960 he appeared with his own quartet at Casa da Praia and initiated his songwriting partnership with Haroldo Barbosa; their first joint efforts were “Projeção” and “Alô, Brotos,” the latter taken up by Sônia Delfino, followed later by “Tudo é Magnífico.” Reis released his debut solo album, Samba de Balanço, in 1962. Six years afterward he entered the II Concurso de Músicas de Carnaval, sponsored by Rio de Janeiro’s Image and Sound Museum, placing two compositions: “O Craque do Tamborim,” co-written with Nássara, and “Zé do Surdo,” written with Etmar Vieira de Andrade.